Highlights of Jia Qinglin's work report of CPPCC

BEIJING: Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin delivered a report on the work of the country's top political advisory body at the opening meeting of its annual full session which started here in the Great Hall of the People Wednesday afternoon.

Following are the highlights of the Work Report of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, which was distributed to journalists upon the opening of the session:

PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGAINST GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC closely followed developments in the global financial crisis and the domestic economic situation; intensified its research on the changing situation; and worked hard to increase the initiative, foresight, and pertinence of its comments and suggestions.

-- The CPPCC convened special sessions in which the Standing Committee deliberated government affairs as well as consultation sessions, all centered on the themes of "striving to boost domestic demand and maintaining steady and rapid economic development" and "accelerating economic restructuring and the transformation of the pattern of economic development, and becoming better able to achieve sustainable development." The CPPCC also held a number of meetings to analyze the economic situation.

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC conducted investigations and studies on 53 special topics, organized 13 inspection and investigative teams for members of the Standing Committee and National Committee, and filed more than 1,800 proposals for investigation and referred them to the relevant authorities.

-- The CPPCC continued to make suggestions for developing a green economy, a circular economy, a low-carbon economy, and clean energy; held a meeting to analyze the development situation as it relates to the population, resources, and the environment; intensely carried out activities concerning caring for the country's forests; supported the reform of collective forest rights; deliberated the issues of fighting climate change and developing nuclear and hydroelectric power; and carried out investigations and studies on the ecological protection and development of the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers, the Three Gorges on the Yangtze, and the Hengshui Lake and Ulansuhai Nur wetlands.

-- In 2010, the CPPCC will carry out thorough investigations and studies on improving the institutions, mechanisms and policy orientation for accelerating the transformation of the pattern of economic development.

PROMOTING SOCIAL HARMONY, IMPROVEMENTS IN PEOPLE'S WELLBEING

-- Focusing on issues such as employment for college graduates and rural migrant workers and the effect of the global financial crisis on workers' rights and interests, the CPPCC carried out thorough investigations and studies, and made proposals for extending the active employment policy to townships, towns, and rural areas; establishing a social security system that covers rural migrant workers; and developing labor-intensive industrial zones to create large numbers of jobs.

-- The CPPCC made numerous insightful and significant suggestions and recommendations on important issues such as formulating policies and measures for the coordinated development of social programs, deepening reform of the income distribution system, accelerating the construction of low-income housing, developing the cultural industry and vocational education, improving the basic medical and health care system, safeguarding the rights and interests of disabled people, and carrying out post-Wenchuan earthquake recovery and reconstruction.

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC edited and reported to the central leadership 267 reports on social conditions and popular sentiment, reported 1,435 comments and suggestions, and made more than 1,900 proposals, all of which contributed greatly to promoting social stability.

-- In 2010, the CPPCC will carry out investigations and studies on making innovations in public administration; protecting the rights and interests of employees of stated-owned enterprises converting to a stockholding system; balancing the development of the medical insurance system between urban and rural areas and improving pertinent regulations; training rural health workers and providing supporting policies; developing vocational education, culture and sports; and making the Shanghai World Expo a success, as well as on education, employment, housing, environmental protection and other issues of concern to the people.

-- The CPPCC will give full attention to factors affecting social stability that have their source in the excessive income gap; offer solutions and suggestions on adjusting the pattern of national income distribution, promoting more equitable access to basic public services, and providing social security and assistance to destitute people; and work hard to promote social fairness and justice.

ETHNIC UNITY, RELIGIOUS HARMONY

-- The CPPCC earnestly implemented the Party's ethnic and religious policies, and energetically promoted ethnic unity and religious harmony.

-- The CPPCC conducted thorough investigations and studies on accelerating the economic and social development of autonomous ethnic minority prefectures, resolving problems related to income and social security concerning members of religious orders and employees of religious organizations, improving work concerning mixed ethnic group communities and ethnic minorities in urban areas, developing Tibetan medicine and pharmacology, and developing water conservancy and hydroelectricity in Tibet, with the goal of doing something substantive to improve the working and living conditions of ethnic minorities. The CPPCC actively participated in building solidarity and progress among ethnic groups and in publicity and educational activities on ethnic solidarity.

-- In 2010, the CPPCC will thoroughly carry out the ethnic and religious policies of the Party, and be concerned about and support economic and social development of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas.

-- The CPPCC will conscientiously implement the guiding principles of the central leadership's Fifth Forum on Tibet Work, and strive to achieve leapfrog development and lasting stability in Tibet and Tibetan ethnic areas in Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces.

TAIWAN, HONG KONG, MACAO, OVERSEAS CHINESE

-- Cleaving to the theme of peaceful development of the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, the CPPCC made full use of its unique strengths to promote exchanges between the compatriots and cooperation between all sectors of society on both sides of the Straits.

-- The CPPCC carried out investigations and studies on promoting cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong, which resulted in suggestions that were greatly valued by the relevant authorities.

-- The CPPCC supported National Committee members from Hong Kong and Macao in carrying out investigations and studies with local social groups on special topics in their respective regions so that they would contribute to better implementing the principle of "one country, two systems" and to maintaining financial stability, promoting economic development and improving people's wellbeing in the two regions.

-- The CPPCC invited overseas Chinese to attend the Second Plenary Session of the Eleventh National Committee as observers, and solicited comments and suggestions from overseas Chinese and people of Chinese origin on how to fight the global financial crisis, promote education in the Chinese language overseas, and help Chinese students returning from overseas undertake scientific research, make innovations and start businesses.

-- In 2010, the CPPCC will carry out investigations and studies on cross-Straits economic, trade and cultural cooperation; deepen cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation; and strengthen emotional ties between people across the Straits.

-- The CPPCC will solicit the views of overseas Chinese experts on the formulation of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan, and conduct investigations and studies on safeguarding the rights and interests of overseas Chinese businesspeople and create conditions for overseas Chinese and Chinese students studying abroad to serve their country.

FOREIGN CONTACTS

-- The CPPCC actively developed high-level visits to other countries, increased mutual political trust with them, and consolidated traditional friendship with them.

-- The CPPCC explained to other countries China's standpoint, measures and efforts in addressing climate change and the impact of the global financial crisis, and promoted bilateral economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges with other countries.

-- By the end of 2009, the CPPCC National Committee had established friendly relations with 236 institutions in 128 foreign countries and 13 international or regional organizations.

-- In 2010, the CPPCC will actively undertake its public diplomacy, and increase its contacts with the parliaments and congresses, governments, political parties, major think tanks, mainstream mass media, and influential figures from all walks of life in foreign countries.